WHO IS THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL WOMAN?

Malala Yousafzais the 16-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl shot by the Taliban for encouraging girls to attend school. She now lives in Britain where she received life- saving surgery after being shot in the head. Today, she met the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace.

Women have been in the news a lot this week.

After the temporary resolution of the debt crisis in Washington, news channels pointed out that the resolution owed a great deal to conciliatory efforts by women in Washington.

Janet Yellen was nominated by the president October 9th, as the new chairman of the Federal Reserve. If approved, she will be the first woman ever appointed to the post.

There is, of course, increased talk of Hilary Clinton running for president in 2016.

Meanwhile, Germany’s Angela Merkel has won another term as Chancellor of Germany. Since the 2008 financial crisis, she has led Germany to the top position in Europe. As one British paper pointed out recently she has achieved in five years what the Kaiser and Hitler failed to do – raise her nation to a position of dominance in Europe.

What is interesting about the above is that I’ve heard each of the above adult ladies at different times described as “the most powerful woman in the world.” That was a label often given Mrs. Clinton when she was Secretary of State.

Now, they can’t all be the most powerful woman in the world.

So, who is?

Queen Elizabeth is the Head of State of 16 different countries and Head of the 53-nation Commonwealth, an organization of mostly former British colonies. In 2002, on the 50th anniversary of becoming queen, an American writer observed that she had done more than any other person in the world to advance democracy. This was written at a time when the US and allies had invaded Afghanistan and were about to invade Iraq, partly to spread democracy to these countries. The article pointed out that the queen did a great deal behind the scenes to ensure all Commonwealth countries stuck to democracy and she did it without firing a shot.

However, this does not mean she is the world’s most powerful woman.

What about Janet Yellen? Is she going to be number one?

Certainly, as Chairman of the Federal Reserve, she will be very powerful. But will she be more powerful than Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, another woman I seem to remember hailed as “the most powerful woman in the world?”

Presumably, if Hilary Clinton does become president after the 2016 election, she will be the most powerful? Maybe. But that will depend on US standing at that time. A report in USA Today this morning says that the US could not even handle one war right now due to military cut-backs. If the growing perception that the US is well past its “sell-by” date gathers more steam, then the international power of the presidency will also be diminished.

Which leaves Frau Merkel, the head of the German government. As Germany is now the fourth greatest economic power (after the US, China and Japan), she is very powerful. But when we consider that Germany is at the helm of the European Union, the world’s greatest single market, she is even more powerful. She has also been instrumental in resolving (some would say dictating) the financial crisis of a number of European countries, putting her ahead of both the Director of the IMF and the Chairman of the Federal Reserve.

I for one will not get drawn into this debate. I just find it tiresome hearing so many powerful and accomplished ladies all described as “the most powerful woman in the world.” They clearly can’t all be.

I will say one thing, though. Margaret Thatcher was the best British prime minister in my lifetime and is the only one since Winston Churchill to leave an international legacy.

As David Ben-Gurion once said of Golda Meir – “she is the best man in my cabinet!”

Some of the ladies above have got more guts than the average male leader.

That goes for Malala, too, daily risking her life to encourage other girls her age to go to school.

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2 thoughts on “WHO IS THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL WOMAN?”

Whilst I agree they can’t all be the most powerful woman in the World I certainly don’t want to hear the end of that branding! I think its great that there have been so many powerful women in the press lately and although slightly irritating that should a man have that role they would not be given such a tag line, I think we definitely should keep demonstrating their achievements!

It is interesting that many women at this time clearly have more courage. I would say all the women you mention have more guts than the average male leader. In fact, more courage than almost all male leaders. In the area of courage, Dr. Laura and Judge Judy come to mind. Their insight and perception has been well developed. Now that many countries are allowing women to have positions of authority these traits are being revealed and developed. Often, the male ego and selfishness gets in the way of right leadership. Down through history MOST leaders have been big-time, or at the very least borderline, psychopaths.

I was watching a video recently and the narrator commented that John Kennedy was the last real president of the United States. That is, the last to really be in charge and make decisions based on what he believed. For reasons that I’m sure are complex he and Robert Kennedy were able to rise above their father’s corrupt motivations and really did try to make positive changes. THAT is the reason they were both killed.

As God said of the end of the age, children will be their oppressors and women will rule over them. There are many reasons why this is true. Godly leadership is the key to changing society, governments, and all organizations for the better. The Book says when the righteous rule the people are happy. God will bring this about soon. In the meantime man will continue as he always has, with man’s inhumanity to man simply increasing many fold. Godly leadership. It’s something we just don’t get. One big reason– most leaders are not interested in listening. They think they have the answers. Perhaps if they opened their eyes they would see their answers are not working out too well. Except, of course, for themselves.